The present disclosure provides a method and a device for selecting a text in an electronic terminal, and the method includes: receiving an operation for entering a text selection mode and entering the text selection mode; displaying a start marker for indicating a start position of the selected text, an end marker for indicating an end position of the selected text, a start guideline which refers to a straight line passing through the start position and extending along a character direction in the text within a predetermined range, and an end guideline which refers to a straight line passing through the end position and extending along a character direction in the text within a predetermined range.